The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Hot Dogs in America from The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Hot Dogs in America Slideshow

The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Hot Dogs in America Slideshow

The Healthiest and Unhealthiest Hot Dogs in America

Hot dogs are one of those quintessentially American foods, one without which no summer cookout is complete. But when it comes time to actually choose the perfect pack of hot dogs, it can sometimes be daunting to find the right one — especially if you’re looking for healthier options. We’ve done the work for you and tracked down the healthiest and unhealthiest hot dogs at the supermarket.

Low Fat: Healthiest: Hebrew National 97% Fat Free Beef Franks

This hot dog is primarily beef, water, and modified potato starch used as an extender, along with standard processed hot dog ingredients like sodium lactate, hydrolyzed soy protein, and sodium diacetate; unfortunately, if you want a low-fat hot dog it won’t be all-natural. Hebrew National’s beef is kosher, however, and the hot dogs contain no artificial flavors, artificial colors, or by-products.

Low Fat: Unhealthiest: Nathan’s Famous 50% Reduced Fat Beef Franks

These hot dogs have more fat, calories, and sodium than any other on the market, and main ingredients include beef, water, corn syrup, and modified food starch; other ingredients include sodium phosphates, hydrolyzed corn protein, and sodium nitrite.

Boar’s Head/Itemmaster

Mixed Meat: Healthiest: Boar’s Head Pork & Beef Frankfurters

Calories: 150Fat: 14 gramsSodium: 460 milligramsCholesterol: 25 milligramsIngredients aren’t available for this one, but Boar’s Head only uses whole-muscle beef and pork, with no “mechanically separated” ingredients.

Turkey: Best: Waterhill Naturals Uncured Turkey Hot Dogs

Calories: 120Fat: 8 gramsSodium: 360 milligramsCholesterol: 20 milligramsThese contain more fat and calories than Applegate’s, but considerably less sodium and cholesterol. The turkey is hormone- and antibiotic-free.

Turkey: Worst: Foster Farms Turkey Franks

Calories: 140Fat: 12 gramsSodium: 480 milligramsCholesterol: 50 milligramsNot only do these contain more cholesterol than just about any other standard-size frank on the market, they’re also made with mechanically separated turkey. As for the rest of the ingredients, the only ones that are pronounceable are corn syrup solids, spices, and flavorings.

Turkey: Worst: Ball Park Turkey Franks

Calories: 110Fat: 7 gramsSodium: 580 milligramsCholesterol: 35 milligramsThese are loaded with sodium, and are also made of mechanically separated turkey. Interestingly enough, they also contain beef stock.